Automatic train-pipe coupling.



J. U. EVANS. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19,1910.

Patented? Jan. 31, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.

a of use.

from the draw head bearing 12 PATENT carton.

JAMES C. EVANS, OF SHAMOKIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent P t t d Ja1 '31 1911 Application filed November 19, 1910. Serial No. 593,217.

Be it known that I, JAMES Evils-s, a

iti f the United States, residing at Shamokin, county of Xorthumberland, -otate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic T rain-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification,reference being ha'd therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an automatic train pipe coupling and particularly to a structure adapted to be automatically connected when'adjoining cars are coupled together. V

Theiinvention has for an object to provide means by which the fluid pressurecoupling isretained in extended-position under the fluid pressure so-as to secure a firm contact and retain it under ordinary conditions A further object of theinventionis to provide such a coupling provided with a cylinder-having a piston therein from which" a coupling head extends and means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder and permitting its feed through said head to acontactmember.-

, Other and further .objects and advantages.

of the invention will be hereinafter'set forth and the novel features thereof defined by. v the appended-claims,

In the drawing-Figure 1 is a side elevation showingthe mounting of thepipe coupling relative to the car coupler; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one member of the pipe coupling; Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. fly-is a detail horizontal section of the pipe coupling members engaged; Fig. valve carried by the pipe coupling head; and Fig. 6 is a modified form ofth'is valve.

Like numerals of. reference 'refer to like parts in the severalfigures of thedrawing.

The train pipe coupling .members are identical in construction and, may. be mounted in any desired manner, one form of which is shown in Fig. 1 .where the cylinder 10, which carries the bar 11 is supported by means of lugs 13 provided with elongated slots 14 .through which securing bolts 15'extend into the support 12.. -This permits the necessary lateral movement of the cylinder 10 in coupling when the members are not in almement.

5 is an enlarged detail of the The head 16 of the train pipe coupling is disposed beneath the ordinary .car coupling 1? carried by the draw bar 18 and extended beyond the sameas shown in Fig. 1. The bar 11 is supported in the hanger-19 carried by the car frame 20 to permit both a lateral and vertical movement thereof. 'l he head 16 is 'd therein and the opposite end with a trainpipe connection 26 by which fluid pressure, such as steam, air or gas, may be introduced. The supporting bar 11 is provided with an aperture 27 extending therethrough to the nose 23 of the head and there communicates with a chamber 28 which is provided with a cut-oft valve 29 adaptedto .be operated by contact with the opposite head as shown in Fig. 4. h This valve may be of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 whereinit' is round and provided with a-central passage 30 and communicating passages 31' at its inner end. This .end'of the valve tension spring 33 acts to project the valve, this spring being adjusted in tension by the nut 3i threaded into the headas shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of the valve is provided with a curved face 35 adapted to coiiperate with a similar face upon the valve 'arried by the opposite coupling member and thus depress thevalves to. establish a fluid pressure passage between the coupled heads. These valves may be m ounted ina collar 30 an inner packing face 37 to provide air-tight contact with thehea ds 32 of the valves when they are closed. The bars 11 may each be provided ivith a turn-cock 38 having a 3-way zpassage39, as shown in Fig. 3. by which, when the coupling is. disconnected, the escape of air may be cut off or allowed to escape when it is desired to release the brake upon a separated car.

also provided at each side with an extension is provided with a head 32 against which a carried by the headswhich is provided with In Fig. 6, a modified form of the coupling I head valve is shown at 40 and issubstani tially the same in construction as the valve 29 except that the stem thereof is angular to prevent-the turningof the Valve.

In the operation of the invention, the piston is normally held in contact with one endof the cylinder in order to prevent a violent blow against the head when the fluid pressure is introduced and is subsequently held in this position by the fluid pressure until the coupling heads contact when the valves therein are opened tovpermit theescape of .a portion of the fluid pressure into the train pipes. This allows a yielding pressure upon the piston against the fluid pressure ofthe cylinder and the spring therein which provides a more positive contact between the coupling heads, maintaining them in feeding relation during all ordinary conditions of traflic and one in which when the train pressure is applied exerts a greater tension than can be secured by the use of aspring which, in this instance, only acts when the fluid pressure is released from the cylinder. It is therefore believed that this invention pre-v sents a simple, eflieient and economical construction of train pipe connection readily adapted for application to cars already equipped with the usual couplings and also avoids the use of any flexible connections which are liable to burst under high pressures.

Having described my invention and set forth itsmerits, what 1 claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a train pipe coupling, means for supplying fluid pressure thereto, means whereby the coupling isretained in extended position by said fluid pressure, and means carried by said coupling and adapted to be op erated by a contact member to allow the escape of fluid pressure therefrom.

2. In a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, :1 5 piston therein, a coupling head connected to said piston, means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder and permitting its feeding through said head, a tension springdisposed within said cylinder between said piston and the opposite end thereof, and an automatically operated escape valve carried by said head. I

3. In a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, a piston therein, a coupling head connected to said piston, means for. introducing fluid f pressure into said cylinder andv permitting its feeding through said head, a tension s rin dis )osed within said 0 lindenbel P a i tween said piston and the opposite end thereof, an automatically operated escapelvalve I carried by said head, and a turn-cock carried l by the head to control the'feed to said-valve or permit escape through said cock.

4. In a train pipe coupling, a. cylinder, a piston therein, a couplinghead connected to said piston, means for introducing fluid pressure into said-cylinder and-permitting its feeding through said head, a tension spring disposed within said cylinder between said piston and the opposite end thereof, an automatically operated escape valve carried by said head, and oppositely disposed extensions carried by said head and provided with inclined guiding faces at opposite sides of said valv 5. In a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, a piston therein. a supporting bar having a passage therethrough and carried by said piston, a coupling head at the opposite end of said bar, and an automatic valve carried by said head.

G. In a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, a v piston therein, a supporting bar having a passage therethrough and carried by .said piston, a coupling head at the opposite end of'said bar, an automatic valve carried by said head, and a springdisposed within said Cylinder between said piston and the opposite end thereof.

7. I11 a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, :1 piston therein, a supportingbar having a passage therethrough and carried by said piston, a coupling head at the opposite end of said bar, an automatic valve carried by said head, a spring disposed Within said cylinder between said piston and the opposite end thereof, and means for mounting said cylinder for lateral movement.

8. In a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, a

piston therein, a supporting bar having a passage therethrough and carried by said piston, a coupling head at the opposite end of said bar, a reciprocating valve mounted in said head and having a passage therethrough, and a tension spring to normally close said valve.

9. In a train pipe coupling, a cylinder, a piston therein, a supporting bar having a passage therethrough and carried by said. piston, a coupling head at the opposite end of said bar, a reciprocating valve mounted in said head and having a passage therethrough, atension spring to normally close said valve, a collar within which said valve rcciprocates, and a packing carried by the inner face and interior of said collar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. EVANS. WVitnesses:

G150. W. Joiix, T. T. JOHN. 

